In the Spring of 2011, Mayor Wharton and the Assisi Foundation, in partnership with our local institutions of higher learning, took on an initiative to highlight the impact and the variety of the area's colleges and universities. The campaign, The Colleges of Memphis, hopes to encourage people to choose educational options in Memphis, as well as connecting those people, once they do choose Memphis, with the broader community. Many do not realize the vast resources and potential that Memphis has, so one of the primary goals of The Colleges of Memphis is to emphasize Memphis' strength and presence as an educational center.